Psalms 105:2 — Word Study
WLCשִֽׁירוּ־ ל֭וֹ זַמְּרוּ־ ל֑וֹ שִׂ֝֗יחוּ בְּכָל־ נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃
BSASingshîyr [with joyful music, in praise] sing praiseszâmar [hymns of worship, songs of adoration] tellsîyach [meditate on, proclaim] of allkôl [every, everything] His wonderspâlâʼ [marvelous works, amazing deeds, things that inspire awe]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִֽׁירוּ־ | sing | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| ל֭וֹ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| זַמְּרוּ־ | sing praises | Verb, Piel, imperative second person masculine plural |
| ל֑וֹ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| שִׂ֝֗יחוּ | tell | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| בְּכָל־ | in all | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ | wonders his | Verb niphal participle (active) feminine plural common, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders. |
| KJV | Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. |
| ASV | Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvellous works. |
| YLT | Sing ye to Him — sing praise to Him, Meditate ye on all His wonders. |
| WEB | Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works. |
| BBE | Let your voice be sounding in songs and melody; let all your thoughts be of the wonder of his works. |
The translations agree on the call to sing and praise but vary slightly in their rendering of God's wonders.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by an imperative phrase, creating a clear directive for worship.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbשִׁיר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 105:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Call to Worshipgenerated
Psalm 105:2 is part of a larger call to worship, where the psalmist invites the community to express gratitude and praise to God for His mighty acts. This verse emphasizes the importance of singing and telling of God's wonders, connecting the act of worship with the remembrance of His deeds. The surrounding verses encourage giving thanks and seeking the Lord's strength, reinforcing the theme of communal worship and reflection on God's greatness.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 47:6–7 | Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! |
| 2 | Psalm 96:1–2 | Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. |
| 3 | Psalm 98:1–5 | Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory. |
| 4 | Judges 5:3 | Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel. |
| 5 | Isaiah 12:5–6 | Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things. Let this be known in all the earth. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שִׁירוּ־, shi.ru-generated
The verb שִׁיר (shi.r) means 'to sing' and is used here in the imperative form, calling the congregation to action. It is derived from a root that conveys the act of singing, often in a joyful context, as seen in various instances throughout the Psalms where singing is a response to God's faithfulness.
This call to sing is paired with זָמַר (za.mar), which emphasizes making music in worship. The Piel form here suggests a more intense or deliberate act of making music, often accompanied by instruments, highlighting the celebratory nature of the worship being called for.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses sing and sing praises to capture the essence of the Hebrew verbs.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of three imperative verbs: שִֽׁירוּ (sing), זַמְּרוּ (sing praises), and שִׂ֝֗יחוּ (tell), all calling the audience to engage in worship. The structure emphasizes a series of actions directed towards God, creating a rhythmic and communal call to praise.
The verbs are followed by prepositional phrases indicating the object of the actions, specifically ל֭וֹ (to Him) and בְּכָל־ (in all), which elaborate on the scope of the worship and the focus on God's wonders.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew שִׁירוּ is rendered as ᾄσατε (aisate), which also means 'sing' but carries a more formal tone. This choice reflects the translators' intent to convey the act of singing in a liturgical context.
The translation of נִפְלְאוֹתָיו as αὐτοῦ (of Him) indicates a direct connection to God's identity, emphasizing that the wonders belong to Him and are a reflection of His character.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 105:2 invites us to sing and praise God, celebrating all His wonderful deeds. The psalmist encourages us to tell others about these amazing works, reminding us of the importance of worship and sharing God's greatness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Singing praises to God is a way to express joy and gratitude for His goodness and faithfulness. It involves both musical expression and heartfelt worship.
We can tell of God's wonders by sharing our testimonies, recounting His deeds in our lives, and encouraging others to recognize His work in the world.
Communal worship fosters a sense of unity and shared faith within the community, allowing individuals to collectively celebrate and acknowledge God's greatness.
Examples of God's wonders include His creation, miracles throughout the Bible, and the transformative work He does in our lives today.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I incorporate singing and praise into my daily life?
- What are some specific wonders of God that I can share with others?
- In what ways does communal worship enhance my faith experience?
- How can I encourage others to recognize and celebrate God's wonders?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo references this verse in his exposition, highlighting the call to sing and play instruments in worship.
"O sing unto Him, and play on instruments unto Him" [Psalms 105:2].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 105 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 105:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSing unto him, sing psalms unto him,.... Both vocally and instrumentally, with the voice and upon instruments of music, as were used in David's time.
Read John Gill on Psalms 105 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentarySing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 105 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 105:2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.Ver. 2. Sing unto him, sing] Both with mouth and with musical instruments. Talk ye] Or, meditate ye, let your heart indite a good matter, and your tongue be as the pen of a ready writer, Psalms 45:1.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 105 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) Sing psalms.—Rather, play, sing unto Him, play unto Him; the usual choral direction.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 105 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. Talk ye of all his wondrous works.] נפלאתיו niphleothaiv, "of his miracles." Who have so many of these to boast of as Christians! Christianity is a tissue of miracles; and every part of the work of grace on the soul is a miracle. Genuine Christian converts may talk of miracles from morning to night; and they should talk of them, and recommend to others their miracle-working God and Saviour.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 105 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. sing psalms] Or, make melody. Cp. Psalms 92:1, note. talk ye] R.V. marg., meditate: cp. Psalms 104:34. The primary meaning of the word is probably to occupy oneself diligently with: hence either to meditate upon, or as context and parallelism require here and in Psalms 140:5, to speak, discourse of, a meaning which the word regularly has in post-Biblical Heb. his wondrous works] R.V., as A.V. in Psalms 105:5, his marvellous works. Cp. Psalms 96:3, and see note on Psalms 9:1.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 105 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleSing unto him - Sing before him; offer him praise. Sing psalms unto him - The word here rendered “sing psalms” means properly “to prune,” and then, to” cut off,” as a discourse at regular periods;
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 105 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible2. Sing—With the voice. Sing psalms—The word denotes singing, with playing on an instrument as an accompaniment.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 105 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.
Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.
Sing to him! Make music to him! Tell about all his miraculous deeds!
Tyndale line
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvellous works.
Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; talk ye of all his marvelous works.
Sing to him, sing psalms to him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
Sing vnto him, sing prayse vnto him, and talke of all his wonderous workes.
Strictly literal
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him; meditate upon all his wondrous works.
Sing ye to Him — sing praise to Him, Meditate ye on all His wonders.
Sing to Him—sing praise to Him, || Meditate on all His wonders.
Sing unto, him, sing praises unto him: speak of all his wonderful works.
Sing to him, sing praises to him; speak of all his marvelous deeds.
From the Latin
Who shall declare the powers of the Lord? who shall set forth all his praises?
Simplified
Sing to him, sing his praises; tell everyone the great things he's done!
Let your voice be sounding in songs and melody; let all your thoughts be of the wonder of his works.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Psalms 105:2 reads, 'שִֽׁירוּ־ ל֭וֹ זַמְּרוּ־ ל֑וֹ שִׂ֝֗יחוּ בְּכָל־ נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃', which translates to 'Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.' The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as six out of seven words correspond directly, although the word order is different due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically 4Q87 and 11Q5, also align closely with the Masoretic Text, with some words partially restored and others supplied by an editor, indicating that the core message remains consistent across these ancient witnesses. Overall, the essential content of the verse is preserved across all sources, highlighting its significance in the biblical tradition.
שִֽׁירוּ־ ל֭וֹ זַמְּרוּ־ ל֑וֹ שִׂ֝֗יחוּ בְּכָל־ נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[שירו] [ל׳ו] [זמרו] ל׳ו [שיחו] [בכול] נפלאותי׳ו
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
[שירו] [ל׳ו] [זמרו] [ל׳ו] [שיחו] בכול נפלאותי׳ו
2 words on the leather — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 105:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שִׁיר (shiyr) means 'to sing' and is a denominative verb derived from a primitive root. It covers various forms of singing, including participles for singers and songstresses. The entries indicate its use in different verbal stems, such as Qal and Polel, and note its appearance in contexts like 1 Samuel 18:6.
[שִׁיר] 86 vb. sing (denom.)
Qal 49 sing
Pō‛l. 36 sing
Hoph. be sung
base
H7891 שִׁיר sing (denom.)
7891 shiyr sheer
or (the original form) shuwr (1 Sam. 18:6) {shoor}; a
primitive root (identical with 7788 through the idea of
strolling minstrelsy); to sing:--behold (by mistake for
7789), sing(-er, -ing man, - ing woman).
see HEBREW for 07788
see HEBREW for 07789
שִׁיר (shir) — to sing.
1) to sing
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sing
1a2) singer, songstresses (participle)
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to sing
1b2) singer, songstress (participle)
1c) (Hophal) to be sung
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
זָמַר (zamar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sing or make music, particularly in praise of God. It is derived from a root that suggests touching the strings of a musical instrument. The word covers actions like singing, playing instruments, and celebrating through music. The Piel form specifically emphasizes making music in worship.
[זמר] vb. only Pi. make music in praise of God
base
H2167 זמר only Pi. make music in praise of God
2167 zamar zaw-mar'
a primitive root (perhaps ident. with 2168 through the idea
of striking with the fingers); properly, to touch the strings
or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make
music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song
and music:--give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.
see HEBREW for 02168
זָמַר (za.mar) — to sing.
1) to sing, sing praise, make music
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to make music, sing
1a2) to play a musical instrument
Aramaic equivalent: ze.mar (זְמָר "music" H2170)
V-Piel-Impv-2mp — Verb · Piel · imperative second person masculine pluralHVpv2mp
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
שִׂיחַ (siyach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to muse or complain, encompassing a range of actions such as talking, singing, and meditating. It can imply conversing with oneself or aloud, and includes nuances of pondering and declaring thoughts. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts of communication and reflection.
שִׂיחַ vb. denom. muse, complain, poet. talk (of)
Qal
complain
muse
talk (about), sing (of)
talk (with)
Pôl‛el meditate, consider
base
H7878 שִׂיחַ vb. denom. muse, complain, poet. talk of
7878 siyach see'-akh
a primitive root; to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse
(with oneself, and hence, aloud) or (transitively) utter:--
commune, complain, declare, meditate, muse, pray, speak, talk
(with).
שִׂיחַ (si.ach) — to muse.
1) to put forth, mediate, muse, commune, speak, complain, ponder, sing
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to complain
1a2) to muse, meditate upon, study, ponder
1a3) to talk, sing, speak
1b) (Polel) to meditate, consider, put forth thoughts
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
See TALE.
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
The Hebrew word פָּלָא (pala') is a verb that conveys the idea of being extraordinary or wonderful. It can describe actions that are difficult to perform or understand, as well as marvelous acts of God, particularly in judgment and redemption. The word can also refer to making special offerings or showing oneself in a marvelous way.
[פָּלָא] 71 vb. denom. Niph. etc., be surpassing, extraordinary
Niph.
be beyond one's power, difficult to do
be difficult to understand
be extraordinary, wonderful
as subst., marvellous things
= wonderful acts of י׳ in judgement and redemption
Pi. make a special votive offering
Hiph.
do a hard or difficult thing
make wonderful, do wondrously
of God working wonders in doing
Hithp. thou dost shew thyself marvellous (act inexplicably) against me
base
H6381 פָּלָא vb. denom. Niph. etc., be surpassing, extraordinary . . be beyond one's power, difficult to do
. be difficult to understand
. . be extraordinary, wonderful
. as subst., marvellous things
. = wonderful acts of י׳ in judgement and redemption
. make a special votive offering
. . do a hard or difficult thing
. make wonderful, do wondrously
. of God working wonders in doing
. thou dost shew thyself marvellous (act inexplicably) against me
6381 pala' paw-law'
a primitive root; properly, perhaps to separate, i.e.
distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be
(causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful:--accomplish,
(arise...too, be too) hard, hidden, things too high, (be, do,
do a, shew) marvelous(-ly, -els, things, work), miracles,
perform, separate, make singular, (be, great, make)
wonderful(-ers, -ly, things, works), wondrous (things,
works, -ly).
פָּלָא (pa.la) — to wonder.
1) to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be beyond one's power, be difficult to do
1a2) to be difficult to understand
1a3) to be wonderful, be extraordinary
1a3a) marvellous (participle)
1b) (Piel) to separate (an offering)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to do extraordinary or hard or difficult thing
1c2) to make wonderful, do wondrously
1d) (Hithpael) to show oneself wonderful or marvellous
V-Niphal | Suff — Verb niphal participle (active) feminine plural common · suffixHVNrfpc/Sp3ms
